Tomb Raider review

Lara Croft is back on the big screen. Is her latest adventure a trip worth taking?

The Good: There’s a lot to like here. First and foremost, Alicia Vikander is the highlight of the film. That may seem like it should be a given, but the energy and fierceness she brings to the film carries it.

The more gritty approach is definitely in line with the rebooted video game series, and is certainly a breath of fresh air compared to the two previous Tomb Raider films with Angelina Jolie.

Some of the early set pieces are fun and thrilling and director Roar Uthaug did a good job visualizing some of the puzzle elements that the series is known for. The film knows what it wants to do and does it in a concise, thrilling way without ever feeling like it was overstaying its welcome.

The Bad: While this film is enjoyable, it never quite elevates itself past being good enough. While Vikander showed why she should be a star, Walton Goggins seemed wasted. He wasn’t physically intimidating, evil or ingenious enough to seem like a real threat to Croft or sympathetic enough to feel like anything more than a missed opportunity. There was room to explore how Croft’s father and Goggin’s villain viewed the importance of family vs. the rest of the world, but sadly that was never fully fleshed out.

And while the early set pieces were fun and exciting, the climax was a let down, filled with glaring CGI and no real tension.

Similarly, Daniel Wu seems to just be there. There are hints at a deeper storyline, but it never paid off in a meaningful way. This isn’t a new issue, but it’s still frustrating.

If you prefer the older versions of Lara Croft, be prepared. There’s a little sass, but not nearly as much as the older games.

The Final Word: Tomb Raider is far away the best true video game adaptation to be released in recent years. There are thrills and laughs to be had, but don’t expect this one to be the game changer we’re all waiting for.